Besides me who else missed having the Disney produced show that usually follows the closing ceremonies. Im not trying to diss what they gave us, my friends Josh and Paul would have loved to see Mandy Moore and that fiery FIRST logo was pretty cool. Getting two names that non-FIRST teens can easily recognize like Will Smith and Mandy Moore is a really good step for FIRST.
Back to the topic, well in 2000 and 2001 they had a really cool Disney produced extravaganza. In 2000 I remember them having a clip show that showed pictures from all regionals and nationals. I think in there was a time lapse film of them building the area in the parking lot. In 2001 they showed clips from all the competitions from 1992 to 2001 in recognition of FIRST’s 10th year. They also had pretty cool confetti cannons and flame guns. We felt the heat from those flame guns all the way at the top where they had the confetti cannons. In both they even added clips from that year’s award ceremony, which is a pretty hard task for the production crew. Also both of them had fireworks and lasers choreographed to the music and video. If I remember correctly both of them ended with the camera flying out of Florida our then out of our solar system, showing a “You are here” arrow pointing to our position in the Milky Way galaxy and then ending with the FIRST logo.
That show always got the adrenaline flowing made you feel good about being in FIRST. It also made you feel kinda sad that the official FIRST season was over and it was January till the next season began. My senior year after watching it, I got that “aww its over feeling.”
I personally would rather have the clip show, but a performance from a recognizable name like Mandy Moore is a good tool to get people Moore interested in FIRST. With Dean’s even Moore growing popularity who know who it Will be next year.
I would have liked to see the flame cannons and the lasers and the video… sigh this was my first time at nationals and my last year before becoming alumni… I just hope my schedrule in college allows me some time to travel and support my team… we’ll see…
I agree completely, even the memory of the clip show gave me a great feeling. This was my last year as a student and i kind of feel cheated with out the clip show (not that i have any right to complain). With any luck, ill be able to go to florida as a chaperone. ::laughs meniacally::
I posted a picture of the Burning FIRST sign at the Wrap Party in the Championship Pictures scetion here
I enjoyed it all! I wish they had the video this year, I always have loved it!
I didn’t even know that Will Smith was at the Awards Ceremony, our team left for the party when Mandy Moore started singing (I would not have been able to stand it much longer, anyways - some other guys on my team liked it, though). And video clip? Huh? Do you mean the one about the Chairman’s Awards’ Hall of Fame? (Of course not…)
I seem to have missed quite a bit; it took me about 30 minutes to get into Epcot, though (bag check) and another 45 mins to find any of the buffets…
Overall, it was a fun experience, though and I would like to come back next year (one-year exchange student, err…)
They said there was going to be a big surprise, and we saw the drums on the back. For a second I thought the Rolling Stones were inside those plant vases and were going to appear suddenly playing “Satisfaction”. Mandy Moore is not the music I like to listen, but I’m glad there was someone famous there, because of the reasons other people already stated above.
I think in 2000 and 2001 the cerimonies were more special. But there wasn’t those “human waves” in slow motion and other fun things everybody did at the same time!!
Yeah, my team hates pop culture with a passion. We’re true nerds/geeks, so when everybody was ready to see the wrap video (the veterans had told everyone about how cool the videos were in previous years, and how awesome it would be this year), everybody was sorely disappointed. I remember everybody picking their jaw up from the floor and immediately turning around for Epcot after they realized it was Mandy Moore. I personally feel very cheated… after witnessing the 2001 closing ceremonies… Mandy Moore… ugh.
What ever happened to changing American culture? Wasn’t pop culture one of the things we’re incredibly against, or am I behind the times?
it would be awesome if FIRST could get some rock group like linkin park or something like that becuasew most of the people on my team (from what i have seen since i am only a freshman)like listening to rock and stuff like that
i thought the awards ceremony was amazing…then the party came…and the only good thing was the fireworks show at the end when they lit up the FIRST symbol…i think with the whole Linkin Park ordeal or a rock group…u’ll have the same number of people say…“oOo we should get *N’sync to play”…nobody will ever be happy
They awards wer egood, but not quite as good as last year, but the party was boring, with nothing to do and not even a place to sit and eat i got bored and just went into epcot… which is pretty boring itself.
I had heard rumors of will smith, but when i saw the band setting up i thought it might have been someone good, I was all up close to teh stage and ready for s good show. I should figured disney would just throw one of its minions (mandy moore) at us. We’re highschoolers and we had a hard and busy week, we needed something to rock too, or at least pep us up for the lame party.
I would given mandy more for just one a those flame cannons, that was coooooooooooool, If ya got that pic still nate y don;t ya post it.
*Originally posted by jk2005 *
**the only reason lasts year’s was so great probably was becuase it was FIRST’s tenth anniversary **
Nah, I’d have to disagree with you. Although two years ago (2000) they didn’t have the “Pyro Cannons” it was indeed a great show and much more enjoyable then this year, as well as the Wrap Party was a lot more fun! Although when we finally found the place with our kind of music, no-one knew about it and there were like three people there! it was soo funny! They had like 10 different dance spots that year! it was crazy!
I completely agree that he laser/video presentaion was much better in 2000 and 2001 then this year’s concert. Our team did not appreciate it either, and decided to leave as sson as she entered the stage. We had told many of the new members to be expecting the ‘awesome show at the end’ however, it did not occur. sigh
I thought it was pretty cool- even though i’m not really into mandy moore it was still cool that she was there… I’m actually trying to find the really tall guy that filmed it for me- I was supposed to send him a copy but i lost his address all I know is that he was from brooklyn new york- so if anyone knows anyone on those 3 brooklyn teams i’d appreciate it if you got back to me about it… thanks
::laughs meniacally::
Mandy Moore is not the music I like to listen, but I’m glad there was someone famous there, because of the reasons other people already stated above.
